Helmet with rearward access aperture

ABSTRACT

A safety helmet for protecting a user head includes a shell extending about the perimeter of the user&#39;s head. The shell has multiple layers of material suitable for protecting a person&#39;s head in the event of a crash or other impact. A front opening is formed in the shell to allow the user to see while wearing the helmet. A separate access opening is included at the rear of the helmet which includes a channel member extending through the multiple layers.

I. Background of the Invention

A. Field of Invention

This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses of safety helmets and more specifically access holes in the safety helmet.

B. Description of the Related Art

It is well known in the art to provide a helmet for protecting a person's head. Helmets may take many forms, such as a hard hat for use in construction and other areas. Another usage of helmets may pertain to operating a motorized vehicle, such as a car or motorcycle. Still other uses may include wearing safety helmets while operating a bicycle, skateboard or other wheeled device. In this manner, helmets are known to protect a person from injury.

One aspect of helmet usage relates to a person's hair and in particular to hair having a relatively long length. Typically, the operator or user of the helmet may pin up their hair if they know that they will be using a helmet. Others may simply allow their hair to extend out from the bottom of the helmet. This can create an undesirable situation as when the operator, for example, is operating a motorcycle. The wind created by movement of the motorcycle may cause the person's hair, extending from beneath the helmet, to be blown wildly about. What is needed is a helmet that will prevent entanglement of a person's hair while utilizing a helmet. The subject invention obviates the aforementioned difficulties.

II. Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the helmet for use in protecting a person's head from injury during impact may comprise: a helmet shell having an outer and an inner surface, the helmet shell having an inner core positioned between the outer surface and the inner surface, the helmet shell having a frontal portion and a rearward portion, the helmet shell having a first opening for use in fitting the helmet over an associated person's head, the helmet shell having a front visual access section fashioned at the frontal portion of the helmet shell for use in allowing the associated user to see out from the helmet shell, and, wherein the helmet has an aperture fashioned in the rearward portion extending from the inner surface to the outer surface of the helmet shell.

Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

III. Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a helmet and associated user.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of a helmet with rearward aperture.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 depicts an associated operator 1 wearing a helmet shown generally at 2. The helmet 2 may be used in conjunction with operating a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, automobile, bi-cycle and the like. But its use is not to be limited to vehicles. Rather, the subject invention can be used in any situation requiring protection of an operator head.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the helmet 2 may be contoured to fit over the operator's head 1. While any configuration of helmet may be chosen, in the present embodiment, the helmet 2 may have a generally flat bottom 8 and a curved top portion 10. The interior 11 of the helmet 2 may also be fashioned so as to conform to a person's head. It any case, the novelty of the present invention is not limited by the shape of the helmet 2. The helmet 2 may also have a front portion 4 and a rear portion 5. At the rear 5 of the helmet 2, the aperture 14 may be fashioned in the shell of the helmet 2 as will be discussed further in a subsequent paragraph. It is noted that the aperture 14 may be fashioned in the shell on the sides or the top of the helmet. In fact, the aperture 14 may be fashioned at any location on the helmet.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, at the front portion 4, the helmet 2 may include an opening 17 or viewing area 17 for allowing the operator to see out from the helmet 2 during use. In one embodiment, the helmet 2 may include a lower front portion 18 covering the chin of the operator. However, it is also contemplated in another embodiment that the helmet may be devoid of a front portion 18 covering the chin. In any case, the helmet 2 includes a viewing area 17 for allowing the operator to see while using the helmet 2. The helmet 2 may also include face shield 21, which may cover the viewing area 17. The face shield 21 may be removably attached to the helmet 2 in any manner chosen with sound engineering judgment. In one embodiment, the face shield 21 may be constructed from a transparent material. Alternately, the face shield 21 may be darkened to limit the sun and ultra violet rays from penetrating the face shield 21. The material from which the face shield 21 is constructed may be, but is not limited to, plastic and/or other polymers.

With reference again to FIG. 1, securing means 24 or a securing strap may be incorporated onto the helmet 2. The securing means 24 may be constructed from any material chosen with sound engineering judgment to appropriately hold the helmet 2 in place during use. The securing means 24, which may be chin straps 24, may include first and second portions 25, 26 having respective ends that may be fixedly connected to the helmet 2. The first and second portions 24, 25 of the securing means 24 may be selectively fastened together after the helmet 2 has been placed onto the user's head. It is noted that the subject invention is not to be limited by the manner of securing the helmet to the operator's head. In that the use of securing means is well known in the art, no further explanation will be offered at this time.

With continued reference to FIG. 1 and now to FIG. 2, the helmet 2 may include a shell, depicted generally at 30. In one embodiment, the shell 30 may include an outer shell portion 32, a center shell portion 33 and an inner shell portion 34. The outer shell portion 32 may be constructed from a rigid material. The center shell portion 33 may be constructed from hard foam. Similarly, the inner shell portion 34 may also be constructed from foam. However, the foam may be softer foam layer as is juxtaposed to the operator's head. It is noted that any material may be used to form the layers of the shell 30 as chosen with sound engineering judgment.

With reference to all of the FIGURES, an aperture 14 may be fashioned in the shell 30 of the helmet 2. In one embodiment, the aperture 14 may extend from the interior of the helmet space, through the shell layers and to the exterior of the helmet 2. The aperture may be substantially circular in configuration. However, any shape and/or configuration of aperture 14 may be chosen with sound engineering judgment. As mentioned previously, the aperture 14 may be fashioned in the rear 5 of the helmet 2. However, the aperture may be fashioned at any location on the helmet 2. Continuing, a channel member 39 may be received by the aperture 14. The channel member 39 may include a flange portion 41, which may have a larger circumference than the aperture 14. In this manner, the flange portion 41 may prevent the channel member from moving into the helmet 2. Separately, the distal end 43 of the channel member 39 may be threaded 44 to receive a selectively removable securing ring 46 having mating threads 48. This may prevent the channel member 39 from moving out of the helmet. Any manner of affixing a channel member 39 to the helmet 2 may be chosen with sound engineering judgment. It is noted that the channel member 39 may be integrally fashioned with the helmet shell 30 and may not be a separate distinct member. Still, any manner of creating a channel in the helmet 2 may be chosen with sound engineering judgment.

The preferred embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: 

1. A safety helmet for use in protecting a person's head from injury during impact, comprising: a helmet shell having an outer and an inner surface, the helmet shell having an inner core positioned between the outer surface and the inner surface, the helmet shell having a frontal portion and a rearward portion, the helmet shell having a first opening for use in fitting the helmet over an associated person's head, the helmet shell having a front visual access section fashioned at the frontal portion of the helmet shell for use in allowing the associated user to see out from the helmet shell, and, wherein the helmet has an aperture fashioned in the rearward portion extending from the inner surface to the outer surface of the helmet shell.
 2. The safety helmet of claim 1, further comprising: securing means for use in securing the helmet to the associated user.
 3. The safety helmet of claim 2, further comprising: a transparent safety shield connected to the helmet shell at the front visual access section, wherein the transparent safety shield substantially covers the front visual access section.
 4. The safety helmet of claim 3, further comprising: a generally tubular channel member having a flange fashioned at a first end of the channel member, the channel member being operatively received within the aperture.
 5. The safety helmet of claim 4 wherein the channel member includes a second end wherein the second end of the channel member includes a threaded portion fashioned on the outer surface of the channel member; and, further comprising: a ring member having a threaded inner surface for use in securing the channel member to the safety helmet. 